Cardinals-Phillies Preview

Philadelphia will turn to Kyle Kendrick as it tries to salvage a four-game split Sunday night at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

The Cardinals (10-7) rebounded from an 8-0 loss Friday for a 5-0 win on Saturday, led by a brilliant start from Lance Lynn and solid production from the heart of the batting order. Jaime Garcia lasted just three innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits Friday, but Lynn picked up the team in a big way, throwing seven innings while yielding one hit.

St. Louis' No 2-3-4-5-6 hitters accounted for all of the team's hits, going 8 for 20. Carlos Beltran homered for the third straight game, continuing to show a fondness for playing the Phillies, particularly on the road. Saturday marked his 30th career homer against Philadelphia and his sixth over his last 13 contests at Citizens Bank Park.

"I don't think about homers, I think about trying to get on base," said Beltran, hitting .268 with four homers and 12 RBIs. "But if you get a good approach and connect with the ball good, sometimes that happens."

Cardinals right-hander Jake Westbrook (1-1, 0.00 ERA) was fortunate that his last start was washed away by rain after he gave up four runs on five hits in two innings Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

"I made some mistakes, and they capitalized on them," Westbrook, who seeks his 100th career victory, told the team's official website. "I missed a few spots. Usually I can get away with (mistakes), but tonight, that wasn't the case. It's just one of those things where I wasn't as sharp as I need to be."

Westbrook is 2-1 with a 4.39 ERA in five starts against Philadelphia.

The Phillies (7-11) seemed to wake up their offense in Friday's 8-2 victory, but it didn't last for long as they managed just three hits Saturday, with John Mayberry Jr.'s fifth-inning double the only one against Lynn. Philadelphia has just seven runs in five losses over its last six games.

Manager Charlie Manuel hopes for a boost with the possible return of Ryan Howard on Sunday, as he's been out of the lineup for two straight games with a sore groin. But even in the 16 games Howard has played, he hasn't been particularly powerful, slugging just .387 with one homer and five RBIs.

Philadelphia will look for a lift from Kendrick (1-1, 3.38 ERA), who has proven successful against the Cardinals, going 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA in six career starts.

Despite the Phillies' offensive woes, Michael Young continued an 11-game hitting streak with a ninth-inning single Saturday after striking out in his first three at-bats. He is 14 for 38 (.368) during the streak, and 11 for 27 (.407) against Westbrook.